Parks, beaches and places to go around Metro East
This list covers 83 public places in 29 towns around Metro East: parks, beaches, boat ramps, trails, dog parks, libraries, pools, museums, farmers markets, rainy-day spots and courts. Every row links to the place's official site and shows the day it was last checked.
Hours and fees change during the year, so they are left off this page. The official site has the current ones.
- Parks
- Beaches
- Boat ramps
- Trails
- Dog parks
- Libraries
- Pools
- Museums
- Farmers markets
- Rainy-day spots
- Courts
All 83 places
Showing 83 of 83
Parks
Park · Alton
Alton Riverfront Park
The park holds the 4,000-seat Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater and a footbridge over Landmarks Boulevard into downtown.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
- Splash pad
1 Riverfront Dr, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Park · Plainview
Beaver Dam State Park
About eight miles of trail circle the 59-acre lake, where only electric trolling motors are permitted.
Outdoors
- Fishing
- Picnic area
- Parking
- Restrooms
14548 Beaver Dam Ln, Plainview, IL 62685
Official site · Checked
Park · Belleville
Bellevue Park
This is the oldest park in Belleville, 27 acres holding a three-acre fishing lake and a stone lodge built by the WPA.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
- Picnic shelter
- Fishing
- Parking
401 Bellevue Park Dr, Belleville, IL 62226
Official site · Checked
Park · Columbia
Bolm-Schuhkraft Memorial Park
The 44-acre city park carries four pavilions with tables, grills and running water, plus two permanent restroom buildings.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Picnic shelter
- Grills
- Restrooms
- Playground
- Parking
1200 N Evergreen Ln, Columbia, IL 62236
Official site · Checked
Park · Belleville
Citizens Park
The largest park in Belleville holds two lighted softball diamonds, BMX ramps, two playgrounds and three picnic shelters.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
- Picnic area
- Lights
- Parking
317 S 44th St, Belleville, IL 62226
Official site · Checked
Park · Edwardsville
City Park
Two acres in the middle of downtown, holding the Cleaon Etzkorn bandstand where the municipal band plays through the summer.
Outdoors
- Shade
- Parking
101 S Buchanan St, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Park · Maryville
Drost Park
Its asphalt paths connect straight onto the MCT Schoolhouse Trail, so the seven-acre lake is a regional trail stop too.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
- Grills
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
- Water fountain
- Boat launch
- Paved path
46 Schiber Ct, Maryville, IL 62062
Official site · Checked
Park · Carlyle
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
The 3,000-acre site runs along the west shore of Carlyle Lake and carries more than nine miles of trail.
Outdoors
- Fishing
- Picnic area
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
20100 Hazlet Park Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Park · East St. Louis
Frank Holten State Recreation Area
Two lakes here total more than 200 acres of water and five miles of shoreline, inside a 1,080-acre site.
Outdoors
- Fishing
- Picnic area
- Picnic shelter
- Grills
- Parking
4500 Pocket Rd, East St. Louis, IL 62205
Official site · Checked
Park · Carlyle
General Dean Suspension Bridge
Built in 1859 across the Kaskaskia River, it is the only suspension bridge of its kind left in Illinois.
Outdoors
Kaskaskia River crossing, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Park · Alton
Gordon F. Moore Community Park
At 704 acres this is the largest city park in the Riverbend, and the state stocks its 13-acre fishing lake.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Accessible
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
- Fishing
- Parking
4550 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Park · Lebanon
Horner Park
The 47-acre park is just outside the city limits and is its own taxing body, with a nine-hole disc golf course.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
- Fishing
- Parking
11113 Widicus Rd, Lebanon, IL 62254
Official site · Checked
Park · Granite City
Horseshoe Lake State Park
The lake is a shallow floodplain remnant of an abandoned Mississippi River channel, so depths run only a few feet across most of it.
Outdoors
- Fishing
- Parking
- Picnic area
- Boat launch
3321 IL-111, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Park · Waterloo
Konarcik Park
The park carries an 18-hole disc golf course, and fishing the lake calls for a current Illinois license.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Water fountain
- Fishing
- Parking
- Dogs allowed
5303 Konarcik Rd, Waterloo, IL 62298
Official site · Checked
Park · Edwardsville
Leclaire Lake Park
A two-acre fishing lake with a lighted fountain anchors the park, inside the Leclaire National Register historic district.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Accessible
- Restrooms
- Picnic shelter
- Picnic area
- Fishing
900 Hale Ave, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Park · Granite City
Loman Park
Loman Park covers about 11 acres and holds a softball diamond, basketball courts, a playground and a concession stand.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Parking
2210 Rock Rd, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Park · Columbia
Metter Memorial Park
Dedicated in 2006, the park is named for a Columbia mayor who held the office from 1933 to 1965.
Outdoors
- Picnic shelter
- Picnic area
- Playground
- Parking
124 S Metter Ave, Columbia, IL 62236
Official site · Checked
Park · Glen Carbon
Miner Park
The MCT Nickel Plate Trail runs along the west edge of the park, so the playground doubles as a trailhead.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Paved path
- Dogs allowed
194 S Main St, Glen Carbon, IL 62034
Official site · Checked
Park · Fairview Heights
Moody Park
The ninety-acre park carries a walking path of about a mile and a half looping past the lake and the ball diamonds.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Picnic shelter
- Picnic area
- Lights
- Parking
525 S Ruby Ln, Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Official site · Checked
Park · Belleville
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
The grounds run over 200 landscaped acres along Illinois 15, which makes this the largest outdoor Marian shrine in the country.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Accessible
442 S DeMazenod Dr, Belleville, IL 62223
Official site · Checked
Park · O'Fallon
O'Fallon Family Sports Park
The 200-acre complex is off Interstate 64 at Exit 14 and carries a walking trail of about 2.1 miles.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
- Fishing
- Paved path
- Parking
301 Obernuefemann Rd, O’Fallon, IL 62269
Official site · Checked
Park · Gillespie
Old Gillespie Lake
The old lake has been open to anglers since 1953, and a newer lake beside it adds boating and swimming.
Outdoors
- Fishing
- Parking
Carney Dr, Gillespie, IL 62033
Official site · Checked
Park · Grafton
Pere Marquette State Park
Twelve miles of hiking trail and twenty miles of equestrian trail climb the bluffs above the Illinois River here.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Boat launch
- Picnic shelter
13112 Visitor Center Ln, Grafton, IL 62037
Official site · Checked
Park · Edwardsville
Plummer Family Park
The 83-acre complex opened in August 2020 and added a second phase of diamonds, sand volleyball and pickleball courts.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Lights
6368 Center Grove Rd, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Park · Alton
Riverview Park
This small bluff-top park in the Christian Hill neighborhood looks straight down the Mississippi River.
Outdoors
- Shade
- Picnic area
Riverview Dr at Bluff St, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Park · Alton
Rock Spring Park
The park carries an 18-hole disc golf course that the course directory rates as a hard one to play.
Outdoors · Free
- Parking
2116 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Park · Alton
Russell Commons Park
The park is the north trailhead of the MCT Confluence Trail, with four picnic shelters and a dog park on site.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Picnic shelter
- Water fountain
- Paved path
- Parking
Discovery Pkwy east of US 67, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Park · Mascoutah
Scheve Park
Some of the picnic pavilions here carry water and electric, and the park also holds a small skate park.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
- Picnic area
- Restrooms
- Parking
829 N 6th St, Mascoutah, IL 62258
Official site · Checked
Park · Carlyle
South Shore State Park
The three-mile-long park lines the southeast side of Carlyle Lake and carries two three-quarter-mile hiking trails.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Fishing
- Boat launch
- Parking
14205 Huey Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Park · Edwardsville
The Gardens at SIUE
A half-mile path loops 35 acres of the university campus, past a butterfly garden, a prairie planting and a bridge over Turtle Pond.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
6 Arboretum Ln, Edwardsville, IL 62026
Official site · Checked
Park · Troy
Tri-Township Park
The park runs a petting zoo alongside its lake, ball fields, skate park and more than two miles of walking path.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Fishing
- Paved path
- Parking
- Restrooms
410 Wickliffe St, Troy, IL 62294
Official site · Checked
Park · Collinsville
Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve
Staff and volunteers have cut more than three miles of trail through the woodland and prairie above the American Bottom.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic shelter
- Dogs allowed
- Parking
631 Willoughby Ln, Collinsville, IL 62234
Official site · Checked
Park · Granite City
Wilson Park
The park runs about 74 acres and its fitness trail loops roughly 1.4 miles past the ball diamonds and through the trees.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Accessible
- Picnic area
- Picnic shelter
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Paved path
2900 Benton St, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Beaches
Beach · Carlyle
Coles Creek Beach
The recreation area carries a swimming beach along with its playgrounds, on the east side of Carlyle Lake.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Playground
- Parking
16225 Coles Creek Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Beach · Carlyle
Dam West Beach
This is the largest public beach on Carlyle Lake, with a picnic area and mature shade trees beside the sand.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Picnic area
- Shade
- Parking
801 Lake Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Boat ramps
Boat ramp · Carlyle
Coles Creek Recreation Area
Boat ramps and courtesy docks are on the eastern shore of Carlyle Lake, next to an amphitheater used for programs.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Parking
16225 Coles Creek Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Carlyle
Dam West Boat Ramp
The Dam West day use area carries a boat ramp and fish cleaning stations along with two reservable picnic shelters.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Restrooms
- Parking
801 Lake Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Greenville
Governor Bond Lake
Two concrete ramps serve this 775-acre city water supply lake, one on the southwest end and one on the southeast.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Fishing
- Parking
1278 Red Ball Trail, Greenville, IL 62246
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Grafton
Grafton Harbor
The harbor is at mile marker zero of the Illinois River, where it meets the Mississippi, and holds more than 300 slips.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
- Restrooms
215 W Water St, Grafton, IL 62037
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Granite City
Horseshoe Lake Boat Ramp
The main ramp is on the north shore inside the park, and the lake carries a 50 horsepower limit on boat motors.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
- Fishing
Lake Dr, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Grafton
Pere Marquette Boat Ramp
A large ramp with ample parking opens onto the Illinois River, its backwaters and the Mississippi beyond.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
13112 Visitor Center Ln, Grafton, IL 62037
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Highland
Silver Lake Park
One concrete ramp serves this 550-acre city water supply lake, whose fishery Highland manages jointly with the state.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Fishing
- Parking
3099 Highland Park Rd, Highland, IL 62249
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Brussels
Swan Lake Boat Ramp
The Swan Lake ramp is at the refuge headquarters near Brussels, reached by the free ferry across the Illinois River.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
364 Wildlife Conservation Rd, Brussels, IL 62013
Official site · Checked
Trails
Trail · Edwardsville
Bohm Woods Nature Preserve
The 92-acre preserve was dedicated in 2006 and carries a 1.7-mile loop through one of the last old-growth stands in the county.
Outdoors
Bohm Woods Nature Preserve, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Trail · Alton
MCT Confluence Trail
The trail runs 20.5 paved miles from Alton to Granite City, most of it on top of the Mississippi River levee.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
Russell Commons Park, Discovery Pkwy, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Trail · Grafton
Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail
The paved trail runs about 20 miles from Pere Marquette State Park to Alton, passing through Elsah on the way.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
Pere Marquette State Park, Scenic Dr at IL 100, Grafton, IL 62037
Official site · Checked
Trail · Brussels
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
A three-mile gravel trail runs the levee at Gilbert Lake, with the Illinois River on one side and the lake on the other.
Outdoors
- Fishing
- Parking
- Restrooms
364 Wildlife Conservation Rd, Brussels, IL 62013
Official site · Checked
Trail · Edwardsville
Watershed Nature Center
About 3,000 feet of paved trail and 800 feet of raised marsh walk cross 40 acres of prairie, forest and wetland.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Accessible
- Parking
1591 Tower Ave, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Dog parks
Dog park · Alton
Alton Dog Park
The three-acre dog park is inside Russell Commons Park and carries obstacles and play stations.
Outdoors
- Off-leash area
- Parking
- Restrooms
Discovery Pkwy, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Libraries
Library · Collinsville
Collinsville Memorial Public Library
The library is on West Main Street a few blocks from Uptown Collinsville and the Miners Institute building.
Indoors
- Parking
408 W Main St, Collinsville, IL 62234
Official site · Checked
Library · Edwardsville
Edwardsville Public Library
The library is inside City Park, so a trip for books and a trip to the bandstand are the same stop.
Indoors
- Parking
- Accessible
112 S Kansas St, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Library · Glen Carbon
Glen Carbon Centennial Library
The library stands next door to Miner Park, at the south end of the village along Main Street.
Indoors
- Parking
198 S Main St, Glen Carbon, IL 62034
Official site · Checked
Library · Greenville
Greenville Public Library
The library building on West Main Street is itself listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Indoors
- Parking
414 W Main St, Greenville, IL 62246
Official site · Checked
Library · Waterloo
Morrison-Talbott Library
The Waterloo library is on Park Street a block off the courthouse square.
Indoors
- Parking
215 Park St, Waterloo, IL 62298
Official site · Checked
Pools
Pool · Carlyle
Eldon Hazlet Campground Pool
A public swimming pool and a camp store are inside the Illini Campground on the lake shore.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
20100 Hazlet Park Rd, Carlyle, IL 62231
Official site · Checked
Pool · Alton
Gordon F. Moore Park Splash Pad
The splash pad is beside the park inclusive playground, which the city added in the same round of work.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Playground
4550 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Pool · O'Fallon
O'Fallon Family Sports Park Splash Pad
The splash pad is inside the sports park along with three playgrounds and small fishing ponds.
Outdoors
- Splash pad
- Playground
- Parking
301 Obernuefemann Rd, O’Fallon, IL 62269
Official site · Checked
Pool · Mascoutah
Scheve Park Swimming Pool
The city swimming pool is inside Scheve Park, next to the ball fields and the playgrounds.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
829 N 6th St, Mascoutah, IL 62258
Official site · Checked
Pool · Granite City
Wilson Park Swimming Pools
The Granite City Park District runs two swimming pools inside Wilson Park, alongside the ball fields and the fitness trail.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
2900 Benton St, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Museums
Museum · Greenville
American Farm Heritage Museum
The museum grounds are just off Interstate 70 at the Greenville exit and hold a working farm equipment collection.
Indoors
- Parking
1395 Museum Ave, Greenville, IL 62246
Official site · Checked
Museum · Cahokia Heights
Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site
Built around 1740 as a French colonial house, it later served as the oldest courthouse in Illinois.
Indoors
- Parking
107 Elm St, Cahokia Heights, IL 62206
Official site · Checked
Museum · Collinsville
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Monks Mound is the largest earthen mound north of Mexico, and 147 steps climb to the top of it.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
30 Ramey St, Collinsville, IL 62234
Official site · Checked
Museum · Greenville
DeMoulin Museum
The museum collects the lodge initiation devices and band uniforms the DeMoulin brothers made in Greenville.
Indoors
205 S Prairie St, Greenville, IL 62246
Official site · Checked
Museum · Elsah
Elsah Historic District
The village reached its present size by 1861 and its stone commercial buildings on LaSalle Street still stand.
Outdoors
Elsah, IL 62028
Official site · Checked
Museum · Jerseyville
Jersey County Courthouse
Built in 1893 and 1894, the Romanesque courthouse stands 124 feet tall and is listed on the National Register.
Indoors
201 W Pearl St, Jerseyville, IL 62052
Official site · Checked
Museum · East St. Louis
Katherine Dunham Museum
The museum holds the collection of dancer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham and asks visitors to call ahead for a visit.
Indoors
1005 Pennsylvania Ave, East St. Louis, IL 62201
Official site · Checked
Museum · Carlinville
Macoupin County Courthouse
Built between 1867 and 1870, the courthouse carries cast iron doors and stairs and a nickname earned by its cost.
Indoors
201 E Main St, Carlinville, IL 62626
Official site · Checked
Museum · Edwardsville
Madison County Historical Museum
The museum is housed in the John Weir House, built in 1836 and the second oldest building standing in Edwardsville.
Indoors
715 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Museum · Maeystown
Maeystown Historic District
Nearly the whole village is on the National Register, and the arched stone bridge at its entrance dates to 1881.
Outdoors
Maeystown, IL 62256
Official site · Checked
Museum · East Alton
National Great Rivers Museum
The museum is at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam and explains how the structure moves barge traffic on the Mississippi.
Indoors
- Parking
- Accessible
2 Locks and Dam Way, East Alton, IL 62024
Official site · Checked
Museum · Granite City
Old Six Mile Museum
The museum occupies the Emmert-Zippel House, built around 1830 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Indoors
3279 Maryville Rd, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Museum · Mount Olive
Union Miners Cemetery
This is the only union-owned cemetery in the country, and the Mother Jones monument here was dedicated in 1936.
Outdoors
0.5 mile north of the city park, Mount Olive, IL 62069
Official site · Checked
Farmers markets
Farmers market · Edwardsville
Land of Goshen Community Market
The Saturday market gathers in City Park around the public library, with a winter market on third Saturdays.
Outdoors
- Parking
City Park, 101 S Buchanan St, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spots
Rainy-day spot · Grafton
Pere Marquette Visitor Center
The center opened in 1997 and holds a three-dimensional map of the park plus exhibits on the river and its wildlife.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Accessible
13112 Visitor Center Ln, Grafton, IL 62037
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Granite City
Wilson Park Ice Rink
Wilson Park holds an indoor ice rink, which makes it one of the few places in the metro to skate out of the weather.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
2900 Benton St, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
Courts
Courts · Belleville
Bellevue Park Courts
The park carries tennis courts and pickleball courts along with a fitness pad beside the one-mile trail.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
401 Bellevue Park Dr, Belleville, IL 62226
Official site · Checked
Courts · Columbia
Bolm-Schuhkraft Park Courts
Basketball, tennis and volleyball courts are inside the park along with its baseball fields.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
1200 N Evergreen Ln, Columbia, IL 62236
Official site · Checked
Courts · East St. Louis
Frank Holten Basketball Courts
The day use area holds basketball courts, baseball diamonds, a cross-country track and a combined football and soccer field.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Picnic area
4500 Pocket Rd, East St. Louis, IL 62205
Official site · Checked
Courts · Alton
Gordon F. Moore Park Tennis Courts
Eight tennis courts are inside the park, alongside ten ball diamonds and nineteen soccer and football fields.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
4550 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
Official site · Checked
Courts · Columbia
Metter Park Courts
The park holds several tennis courts marked for pickleball and a basketball court beside the playground.
Outdoors
- Parking
124 S Metter Ave, Columbia, IL 62236
Official site · Checked
Courts · Fairview Heights
Moody Park Courts
Lighted tennis courts and lighted sand volleyball courts are inside the park beside the soccer fields.
Outdoors
- Lights
- Restrooms
- Parking
525 S Ruby Ln, Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Official site · Checked
Courts · Edwardsville
Plummer Family Park Pickleball Courts
Between its two phases the park carries 25 pickleball courts, which is the largest single bank of them in the metro.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
- Parking
6368 Center Grove Rd, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Official site · Checked
Courts · Granite City
Wilson Park Tennis Courts
Six lighted tennis courts are inside Wilson Park, and the park district also marks them for pickleball.
Outdoors
- Lights
- Parking
- Restrooms
2900 Benton St, Granite City, IL 62040
Official site · Checked
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This directory was last checked as a whole on September 24, 2026.
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